title: The development of in vivo imaging systems to study gene expression.
abstract: Imaging techniques are currently being developed to map the topography and level of gene expression following gene therapy. To date, two different imaging strategies have been investigated--using marker genes encoding either intracellular enzymes or cell-surface receptors. The first approach employs the ability of certain enzymes to modify imaging prodrugs, so that tissue accumulation of such drugs reflects the expression. The second approach utilises cell-surface expression of a ligand-binding receptor that can be detected using imaging tracers. In this review, we discuss nuclear-and magnetic-resonance-image techniques that have been developed to detect gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02129, USA. aboganov@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogdanov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weissleder
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D015870:Gene Expression; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans